"Cruising"

The controversial thriller hits Blu-ray August 20th...!

Academy Award-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French Connection) directs Al Pacino as an undercover cop pitched into New York's seedy underbelly in Cruising - available for the first time on Blu-ray in a brand new director-approved transfer. New York is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who is preying on the patrons of the city's underground bars. Captain Edelson (Paul Sorvino) tasks young rookie Steve Burns (Pacino) with infiltrating the S&M subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows - but as he immerses himself deeper and deeper into the underworld, Steve risks losing his own identity in the process. Taking the premise and title from reporter Gerald Walker's novel, Cruising was the subject of great controversy at the time of its release and remains a challenging and remarkable movie to this day, with Pacino's haunted lead performance as its magnetic centerpiece.

Bonus Materials

• Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio supervised by William Friedkin
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Archival audio commentary by William Friedkin
• The History of Cruising – archival featurette looking at the film’s origins and production
• Exorcizing Cruising – archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
• Original Theatrical Trailer

Order Here - https://mvdb2b.com/b2b/s/AV219

Saturday Sinema: Desolation Center

Desolation Center Hits Theaters Nationwide starting Friday, September 13^th

^{I remember when punk was young...}

Desolation Center, the indie music festival documentary which has played numerous film festivals worldwide, is set to begin a national theatrical rollout starting on September 13th in Los Angeles. The film is the untold story of a series of guerrilla music and art performance happenings in the 80s which inspired the birth of contemporary festival culture including Burning Man, Lollapalooza and Coachella. The film combines interviews of punk and post-punk luminaries with rare performance footage of Sonic Youth, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Perry Farrell, Redd Kross, Einstürzende Neubauten, Survival Research Laboratories, Savage Republic and more, giving viewers unprecedented access to a time when pushing the boundaries of music, art, and performance was like an unspoken obligation. Directed by the creator and organizer of the original events, Stuart Swezey, Desolation Center tells the true story of how the risky, and at times even reckless, actions of a few outsiders were able to incite seismic cultural shifts.

The new theatrical cut of Desolation Center includes an interview with Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction and co-founder of Lollapalooza who was a participant in all of the Desolation Center events. The film will be having its New York City premiere as part of the Rooftop Films series with an outdoor screening in the historic Green-Wood Cemetery on Thursday, August 15th followed by a 50+ city run across North America in the following weeks. 

White Punks On Dope?

The story of the guerrilla music and performance events of the Desolation Center is inextricably linked with the director's own story as a young adult in the punk and post-punk music scene in the early 1980s. Desolation Center is more than just the story of a series of wild and unorthodox happenings. The film is also true to the spirit of freedom and possibility that punk and its clarion call of creative deconstruction embodied. 

The timeless power of DIY-do-it-yourself culture is an ongoing theme in the film. Director Stuart Swezey told the New York Times, "D.I.Y. is now a shorthand for a lot of things," he said. "But the idea that you can have a wacky idea and get a bunch of people to go along with it, and make it happen even with very limited resources - that was life-affirming."

The film explores an almost lost subcultural story that will also be a catalyst to future generations to question assumptions and carve out new possibilities to express themselves. As Thurston Moore also described to the New York Times, the mood was "one of complete joy and wonder at being together in a place that might as well have been another planet." He said the most radical attribute of Desolation Center was that "it asked no permission," and he called the show "one of the great moments" in the history of Sonic Youth. 

Sonic Youth

Desolation Center has screened across the globe including the prestigious European CPH:DOX Film Festival in Denmark, Sheffield Doc/Fest in the UK and its US premiere at Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. More recently, it brought home Audience Awards at SF Indiefest and Chicago Underground Film Festival and was a selection of the Detroit Free Press Freep Festival screening at the Third Man Records store. 

Dreamland II

For The Winn
Billy Winn

Billy Winn Awakens Dreamland II, The Final EP of His Two-Part Series

Billy Winn’s Dreamland II releases everywhere on August 9 and it picks up where the first album left off.  Thematically, at least.  Both EPs tell stories from the perspective of a queer kid of color who has had his heart broken.  “It’s the only position that I can write from and it’s one that I can’t recall ever hearing in pop music,” Winn explains.  “My hope is that regardless of where you come from, who you are now, or who you are becoming; you’re able to find something in these songs that resonates and makes you want to play them over and over again.”

Billy Winn was listening to a lot of TLC and Janet Jackson while he was working on Dreamland II.  “Specifically, Crazy, Sexy, Cool, Fanmail, and Janet’s Velvet Rope album.  At the same time, I was listening to artists like Flume, Owl City, Robyn, and Tove Lo; trying to find a place musically where they could all co-exist or become something completely different altogether.”

He was also inspired by a series of circumstances in his life, including the death of his father.  “He and I weren’t close but at the end of his life, I was asked to return home to take care of him and my family.  It was an extremely emotional situation, and definitely something that I’m still healing from.”

It is one of the reasons Dreamland II is angrier than the first album.  While Dreamland I explored life as a perception of fantasy and guilty pleasures, Dreamland II reveals more pain beneath the surface.  There is an overriding theme throughout that it’s all fun and games until someone catches feelings.

Billy Winn is a Billboard-charting singer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer whose music ranges from high energy dance records to emotionally charged EDM.  Some of his most popular singles include “Seal It with a Kiss”, “Crash,” and “Future X Boyfriend.”

Dreamland I was a major turning point for the young artist and its success allowed Winn to tour and expand his fan base.  It has also taught him to not doubt or second guess himself.    “I’m trusting my instincts a lot more these days and I have to admit I’m pretty confident in the road ahead.” 

Billy Winn released “Another Broken Heart,” the debut single from Dreamland II, in June.  The next release from the album, “Tell Him,” is scheduled to release in early fall.

 

Billy Winn’s Dreamland II is being distributed by Ferocious Music and OneRPM and is available on iTunes, Spotify and all digital platforms.  For more information, visit BillyWinn.com or follow him on Facebook.

Michael's Musings

Step Into My Lair
Michael Shinafelt

"What good is sitting, alone in your room? come hear the music play! Life is a cabaret, old chum! Come to the cabaret!" Cabaret, Liza Minnelli 

For some reason my mind landed on planet Cabaret this morning. Hey, creativity is the one thing I don't question in this world. It's my safe word, say it with me... C-R-E-A-T-I-V-I-T-Y - rolls off the tongue like buttah! 

Let's get this Cabaret started minions!

Barbara Streisand & Ariana Grande singing No More Tears/Enough Is Enough at Madison Square Garden feels like a pivotal moment in Queer studies of the future

Scary Drag Queens, discuss...

A hobo called me a bimbo once

Use a Dustbuster after eating your Nacho Cheese Doritos on the Porcelain God please

In the name of all that is Holy. Find something Holy I double dog dare you!!!

Bizarre Quote of the Week - "Spend more time on your knees than on the internet." Mike Pence. Ummmmm, sounds like a come on, I'll pass 😒

R.I.P. Toni Morrison

Lean in to the frequency and give in to the funk. This is your super power.

Woman Crush of the Week - Zoe Kravitz

Green eggs & ham are gross, Sam I Am can suck it!

 Lock the door Patricia Mae Andrzejewski (Pat Benatar's real name)

Nacho, Nacho, Man, I wanna be a Nacho Man

Oh look at that, a living, breathing dumpster fire

WTF did a visual of Christopher Meloni naked on OZ just flash through my mind? Oh nevermind...

Find out who let the dogs out by following me at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/MShinafelt  

Hump Day & Chill

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Macbeth

Tristan Waldron (Macbeth) & Megan Ruble (Lady Macbeth)
Photo:
Ashly Covington

134 West Presents

William Shakespeare’s

Macbeth

“We are yet but young in deed.”

Directed by Alyssa Escalante

At Art Share L.A. in DTLA

Thursday, August 15 – Saturday, September 7, 2019

• Opening Night: Saturday, August 17

• Talkback: Thursday, August 29

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth gets a daring new production in Downtown LA’s arts district thanks to 134 West. Directed by Alyssa Escalante, thisMacbeth, set in a near future desert landscape, will have a limited engagement at Art Share L.A. from Thursday, August 15 through Saturday, September 7, 2019. Produced by Susan Lambert Hatem, Macbeth persists as one of Shakespeare’s most popular and most produced plays because of its deeply human themes. And yet, there remains so much to be discovered in its haunting poetry. The 134 West team will transform Art Share LA.’s space, known for its many artistic and creative events, for Macbeth, which has the distinction of being the first play to have a full run in the space. For information and tickets, please visit http://macbethla.com.

“This production offers an alternate perspective of ambition, specifically through the lens of youth,” says director Escalante. “This Macbeth is a cautionary coming of age story about the decisions we face in pursuit of our goals and the futileness of satisfaction.”

134 West will mount twelve Macbeth performances over the four-week run, every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $40 for limited VIP premium seats. Suggested age limit is equivalent to a PG-13 rating due to violence, mental health issues and suicide. Opening night will take place on Saturday, August 17 with two preview performances leading up to it. The first preview, on Thursday, August 15, will be a Pay What You Can (PWYC) Night. Patrons may pay any amount at the door or secure online tickets that start at $5.00. Tickets for the second preview performance on Friday, August 16 cost $15 or $40. During the third weekend of the run, there will be a Talkback with Cast & Creatives on Thursday, August 29. Art Share L.A. is located at 801 E. 4th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90013. For more information on the venue, please call 213-687-4278 or visit hhttps://artsharela.org.

MACBETH SYNOPSIS:

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a coming of age story of a young man at a crossroads in which he is confronted with the man he is and the man he has always imagined himself to be. Offered his heart’s desire, and supported by the powerful love of his “dearest partner,” Macbeth goes against his very nature to become king, but at the cost of his soul and the destruction of his sanity. The partners take a course of action, which simultaneously brings them all they ever dreamed possible while destroying the world around them and each other, leaving them with a haunting wisdom far beyond their years.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION:

Set in the beautiful but dangerous landscape of the desert in a future reality, 134 West’s production offers an alternative perspective of ambition, specifically powered by youth. Who better to bring the boldness required to conquer such a production than young artists who are in the midst of wrestling with ambition themselves?

The youthful but experienced production team from 134 West has collaborated before onHomeward LA and Confidence (and The Speech), but Macbeth offers an exciting opportunity to produce one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays. And Art Share L.A.’s unique event space is the perfect venue to realize the vision for this production. “Art Share L.A. has been a great partner for us,” explains producer Lambert Hatem, “They have presented so many artistic and exciting events, but Macbeth is the first full-run of a play in their space. Our designers are inspired to transform the space and bring the audience into the world of our Macbeth.”

LINKS:

• Macbeth - http://macbethla.com

• Macbeth Tickets - https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4209217

• Macbeth Facebook Event Page - https://www.facebook.com/macbethLA2019

• Macbeth Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/macbethla

• Macbeth Twitter - https://twitter.com/macbethla2019

• 134 West Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/134West

• 134 West Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/134west

• 134 West Twitter - https://twitter.com/134_West

Sh!t Leslie Grossman Says

Savagely Wicked
Leslie Grossman

I follow a number of celebrities on Twitter of varying degrees and for various reasons like the rest of you. Well today I wanted to pay tribute to one of the funnier ones Leslie Grossman. Leslie first appeared on my radar with her savagely wicked portrayal of Merry Cherry on the short lived, but brilliant show Popular.

Of late she joined Ryan Murphy's repertoire of players on American Horror Story in Cult as Meadow Wilton in another savagely wicked turn, thus returning every season since. Can you guess where I am going with this? "Yes" Leslie's Tweets are savagely wicked. Thus here is some of my favorite "Sh!t Leslie Grossman Says!" -

"Only interested in politicians with an F rating from the NRA"

"TRULY SO HAPPY AND THRILLED FOR EVERYONE I KNOW ON AMAZING SUMMER VACATIONS WHILE I SPEND MY SUMMER STUCK IN TRAFFIC ON THE 405 BLESSINGS TO YOU AND YOUR LIFE ALTERING TRIPS WHILE I STAY HOME INHALING SMOG AND ENLARGING MY PORES"

"I just ate pretzel m+m’s AND a few fistfuls of mini Oreos so don’t let anyone ever tell you your dreams can’t come true"

"The person next to me on this plane brought their own bag of HARD BOILED EGGS. I AM A GOOD PERSON I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS HAPPENING."

"I have no time to do anything yet I am always fully caught up on all franchises of the Real Housewives and my commitment is either impressive or pathetic I can’t decide"

"Important update: from here on out I will only call Southern Charm “Bapadoo”. I realize this is an incredibly niche tweet."

"Let’s vote legendary asshole Mitch McConnell out and take back the senate in 2020 WE CAN DO THIS"

"That specific relief when that person bombing your insta feed with their AMAZING VACATION finally comes the fuck home"

Follow Leslie on Twitter, like me...

https://twitter.com/MissLeslieG